Number: 1997-02
WHEREAS, humankind’s increasing incursions into global ecosystems including forests, oceans and waterways is causing unprecedented impact on fish and wildlife populations, species extinction and natural habitat depletion; and
WHEREAS, resident people in virtually all developing nations with wild habitat are motivated by their own need for income to engage in the killing or live capture of fish and wildlife for legal or black market commerce in pets or animal products; and
WHEREAS, there are very limited dependable scientific studies assessing the status and viability of populations of most fish and wildlife species in many countries; and
WHEREAS, studies of the international pet trade indicate that for every live animal that reaches a pet owner in the United States, as many as ten or more animals may perish in the capture, transport and selling process; and
WHEREAS, the United States currently provides little or no incentive for importers of fish and wildlife or their parts and products to assure that their taking involves responsible conservation practices; and
WHEREAS, there is great economic interest and a very active practice in the importation of fish and wildlife, and their parts or products into the United States; and
WHEREAS, simple import bans on endangered species and parts derived from them have contributed little to reducing illegal poaching of those animals, and have done nothing to encourage local conservation measures; and
WHEREAS, it is estimated that imports into the United States comprise approximately 45% of the total international commerce in wildlife and wildlife products; and
WHEREAS, the United States, as a world leader and major consumer, has an obligation to set the right example by encouraging the conservation of wild species and urging other nations to follow suit; and
WHEREAS, the United States has set an example by implementing modern wildlife management to help sustain and recover native fish and wildlife populations; and
WHEREAS, programs in several countries have demonstrated that fish and wildlife conservation, as well as local community welfare, can be advanced through fish and wildlife management plans which are characterized by the following, among other factors:
- local stakeholder involvement in the plan, i.e. significant participation by the people who live with the resource in preparing it, and having shared responsibility and authority to manage the resource;
- management based on the principle of sustainability; basic minimum information available to set initial harvest levels, and use of adaptive management process to adjust as necessary;
- monitoring system in place;
- significant percentage of revenues or other benefits go to local people who live with the resource, and substantial portion of this devoted to conservation of the resource and its habitat; and
- where feasible, a tracking and labeling system for “green labeling” to reward sustainable harvest and allow consumers to exercise their power of choice;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in its Annual Meeting assembled April 3-6, 1997 in Tucson, Arizona hereby urges the Congress and the President of the United States to better implement existing importation regulations (e.g., those relating to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)) and institute new regulations governing the importation of all fish and wildlife, their parts and products, whether free-ranging or raised in farm breeding conditions, into the United States; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that after a suitable phase-in period, these new regulations would allow the importation of fish and wildlife, their parts and products only from areas managed under conservation plans based on the model described above, as certified by an internationally recognized body with competence to make such determinations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation urges the Congress and the President of the United States, through the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Agency for International Development, to work with governments and international bodies, such as the CITES Secretariat, to make financial and educational resources and scientific expertise available to implement the local conservation plans, and establish programs that financially reward private citizens who report illegal activities, to be paid after arrest and conviction of the perpetrators; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any importation must be consistent with all other applicable laws and regulations, including the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Endangered Species Act, and regulations of the Animal, Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS); and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the importation of live animals for zoos or for medical and scientific experimentation would also be controlled by these same regulations to assure that conservation of the species was adequately considered in their taking, except where the purpose of importation is preservation of the species; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution is not intended to affect the legitimate import of food fish that are taken under legal guidelines and responsible conservation practices; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these regulations would allow the importation of trophy game animals (for personal use) taken by U.S. resident hunters and consistent with all applicable laws during licensed and legitimate sport hunting activities in other nations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation urges the governments of all other nations to implement similar import and export regulations on wild species of animals, parts or products, and further encourages all nations to employ responsible and ethical conservation measures.